Great Falls man arrested in hotel room hammer assault

A man is charged in Cascade County District Court after allegedly breaking into a Great Falls hotel room and assaulting an ex-roommate with a hammer early Monday morning.

John Garces, 48, is charged with felony assault with a weapon and aggravated burglary, as well as misdemeanor criminal mischief. If convicted of both felonies, he faces up to 60 years in prison.

According to charging documents, a former roommate of Garces’ was staying at the Airway Motel at 1800 14th St. S.W.

The ex-roommate and a friend who was staying with him reportedly told police that they had gone to bed Sunday night, when Garces forced his way into their room by breaking a door window. Garces then allegedly began to hit the ex-roommate with a hammer, described as two feet long with a wooden handle and silver head.

Police arrived shortly after the ex-roommate’s friend forced Garces to leave the room. The ex-roommate hospitalized with a wound on the right side of his head, swelling below his left and right eyes, a bruised finger and possible broken forearm.

After officers located Garces at his residence in Black Eagle, he reportedly admitted to being in a fight but claimed he had acted in self-defense.

Another man, who had driven Garces to the motel but did not see the fight, reportedly told officers that Garces commented he had “taken care of business” upon exiting the hotel room.

Prosecutors have asked that Garces, expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday, be held on $25,000 bail as his case progresses.

Reach Staff Writer Eric Dietrich at 791-6527 or edietrich@greatfallstribune.com. He can also be followed on Twitter at @GFTrib_EricD.